Illegal eavesdropping threatens Turkey: Parliament head

People who posted on YouTube recordings of a security meeting on Turkish territory in Syria have committed a crime against their homeland, says Cicek

ANKARA - The people who illegally eavesdropped on a high-level security meeting of government officials discussing Turkish territory in Syria want to drag Turkey into chaos, Turkey's Parliament Speaker Cemil Cicek has said.

Cemil Cicek told Anadolu Agency on Friday that the availability of methods of publishing such recordings on the internet was worrying for the future of the state and its political stability.

His comments came a day after a conversation between Turkish FM Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s intelligence agency chief Hakan Fidan and Deputy Chief of General Staff Yasar Guler was illegally recorded and posted on YouTube.

“It is obvious that the ones doing this want to drag our country into chaos and political uncertainty,” stated Cicek, “The ones who did this should know they have committed a crime against their homeland”.

Cicek also stated that Turkey’s national security could be threatened because of such actions.

A video that appeared on Youtube on Thursday showed that the meeting was spied on while possible threats to the Tomb of Suleyman Shah - Turkey's only exclave in Turkish territory in Aleppo, Syria - were being discussed.